Possible world record set at Grossmont College

EL CAJON  Nearly 1,800 people signed a giant birthday card for Grossmont College on Saturday, setting what appears to be a new world record.

The feat was achieved both online and in person as part of the school’s 50th Anniversary open house, a two-day celebration. Crowds lined up at Grossmont College’s Griffin Center to sign the 4-foot-by-4-foot card between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. to help beat the previous record of 1,468 people signing a card during a one-day event.

The final tally: 1,797 signatures, including 174 well-wishers who submitted their greetings on Grossmont College’s Facebook page.

Following procedures laid out by the keepers of the Guinness World Records, 15 volunteers registered and witnessed card signers. They also kept tabs of greetings posted onto Grossmont College’s Facebook page. More than 3,000 people attended the open house.

With everything tallied and recorded, all that remains is certification from Guinness World Records, expected in the coming weeks, Grossmont College spokeswoman Anne Krueger said.

A dedication ceremony was held Saturday for Grossmont’s newest Proposition R-funded remodeling and expansions: the student center, along with the Student Services and Administration building. The ceremony marked the completion of the $36.2 million, two-building project, which took about 1½ years to build.